Welcome to the Yoga Therapy Hour in 2025! Host Amy Wheeler kicks off the year by diving deep into Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra 1.33, which offers a framework for improving relationships and cultivating inner peace. Amy reflects on how yoga has helped her heal physically, emotionally, and in her relationships, emphasizing the transformative power of clarity, compassion, and discernment.

This episode focuses on the practical application of four key principles from the sutra:

• Maitrī (Friendliness)
• Karunā (Compassion)
• Muditā (Appreciation and Gratitude)
• Upekṣā (Discernment and Non-Judgment)

Amy shares personal anecdotes, insights, and strategies for applying these principles in daily life to reduce suffering, strengthen connections, and foster emotional resilience.

Key Takeaways:

1. Yoga as Relationship: Yoga is reflected in how we interact with the world. Healthy relationships are a sign of a healthy inner state.
2. Healing Through Yoga: Amy shares her journey of overcoming physical, mental, and emotional challenges through yoga and Ayurveda.
3. Applying Yoga Sutra 1.33: Learn how to navigate relationships by being friendly to the friendly, compassionate to the suffering, appreciative of the good, and discerning with negative influences.
4. Discernment in Action: Understand when to step back from toxic relationships and redirect energy towards meaningful connections.
5. Compassion vs. Empathy: Amy explains the importance of healthy boundaries in offering compassion without experiencing burnout or compassion fatigue.

Special Offer:

Join Amy every Monday night in 2025 for a year-long series on Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and Emotional Intelligence. Each session includes asana, pranayama, yoga nidra, meditation, and a focused discussion on a sutra. Explore monthly themes and gain tools for personal growth and professional development.

Details:

🌟 Cost: $59 per household (75 min. class + recording) | $75 per person for CEUs (75 min. class + 15 min. discussion + Certificate of Completion)

📅 Sign Up: www.theoptimalstate.com

Connect with Amy:

• Website: www.theoptimalstate.com
• Instagram: @OptimalState
• Podcast Patreon Community: Support the show and enjoy exclusive gifts!

Start your 2025 with clarity, compassion, and connection—tune in now! 🎙✨

Welcome to 2025 and an inspiring new episode of The Yoga Therapy Hour. Amy Wheeler kicks off the year with a heartfelt conversation with renowned yoga therapist, biomechanist, and movement expert, Susi Hately. As an accomplished athlete and founder of Functional Synergy, Susi shares her transformative journey from high-performance sports to a deeper understanding of the power of rest, recovery, and living in a balanced state. This episode is packed with insights on interoceptive awareness, redefining success in movement, and learning to trust your body’s wisdom.

Highlights:

• Susi’s Journey to Yoga: From serious athletics to her first awkward yoga class, Susi reflects on how yoga became a tool for healing her chronic pain and reshaping her approach to movement.
• The Science of Rest: Why recovery is often misunderstood, and how proper rest can clear allostatic load, enhance performance, and improve well-being.
• Metrics Meet Mindfulness: Susi discusses how tools like Garmin watches and Oura rings provide actionable data for recovery and how integrating this with yoga enhances self-awareness.
• The Revolutionary Power of Yoga Nidra: How a consistent Yoga Nidra practice became a cornerstone of Susi’s recovery and emotional regulation process.
• Family Dynamics and Co-Regulation: Susi shares personal stories about navigating hypervigilance as a caregiver and how cultivating clarity shifted the energy in her home.
• Listening to the Body: Practical tips for tuning into subtle body signals and using interoceptive awareness as a compass for health and happiness.

Conclusion:

This thought-provoking discussion highlights the transformative potential of rest and recovery. Susi reminds us that living in alignment with our body’s wisdom is a revolutionary act of self-care. Whether you’re an athlete, a yoga practitioner, or someone seeking balance, her insights will inspire you to prioritize rest, embrace curiosity, and listen deeply to your body.

Connect with Susi Hately:

• Website: www.functionalsynergy.com
• Instagram: @FromPainToPossibility
• YouTube: Susi Hately

Don’t forget to subscribe to The Yoga Therapy Hour for more inspiring conversations and practical tools to enhance your life!

Additional Resources with Amy Wheeler:

• University of Minnesota Therapeutic Yoga Series
• Polyvagal Institute Mighty App
• Optimal State Mobile App
• Optimal State and Yoga Therapy Hour Patreon

· Monday Night Yoga Therapy Clinic on www.TheOpimtalState.com

· Join us for our Monday night Yoga Therapy Clinics, specially designed to address specific health and wellness topics. The sessions are held every Monday from 4:00-5:15 PM PST and are led by Amy Wheeler, a seasoned expert in yoga therapy. This clinic provides a supportive environment where participants can explore therapeutic yoga techniques to aid in addiction recovery and overall well-being.

· For those seeking professional development, there is an option to stay after the general public class and earn Continuing Education (CE) credits. This extended session offers in-depth training and valuable insights into integrating yoga therapy with addiction treatment.

In this short and sweet solo episode, host Amy Wheeler reflects on an incredible year of The Yoga Therapy Hour as we prepare to go on winter break. Join Amy as she:

• Expresses Gratitude: Amy reviews some of the amazing guests we’ve had on the show in 2024, thanking them for their invaluable contributions to conversations about yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda.
• Encourages Exploration: Didn’t catch every episode? Amy invites you to revisit the season and discover any gems you might have missed. This is the perfect time to soak in the wisdom shared throughout the year.
• Looks Ahead to Season 8: Starting in January 2025, The Yoga Therapy Hour is taking an exciting new direction! In Season 8, Amy is inviting YOU—our listeners—to lead the conversation. Share your personal stories of health, healing, and transformation through yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda. This new season will celebrate the resilience and growth found in these practices and highlight the profound impact they’ve had on your life.

✨ Wishing You Peace and Prosperity: The entire team at The Yoga Therapy Hour and The Optimal State wishes you a joyful New Year filled with health, happiness, and abundance. Thank you for being part of our community, and we’ll see you in 2025 with inspiring new stories to share!

📌 Get Involved in Season 8: Have a story to share? Email Amy at amy@amywheeler.com to be a guest on the podcast.

🔗 Stay Connected:

• Website: TheOptimalState.com
• Instagram: @TheOptimalState
• Facebook: TheOptimalState

🌟 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and share the podcast with friends who might benefit from the wisdom of yoga, yoga therapy, and Ayurveda.

We’ll see you on the other side in 2025!

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Additional Resources with Amy Wheeler:

• University of Minnesota Therapeutic Yoga Series
• Polyvagal Institute Mighty App
• 7-Week Course on Yoga, Yoga Therapy & Polyvagal Theory
• Optimal State Mobile App
• Optimal State and Yoga Therapy Hour Patreon

· Monday Night Yoga Therapy Clinic on www.TheOpimtalState.com

· Join us for our Monday night Yoga Therapy Clinics, specially designed to address specific health and wellness topics. The sessions are held every Monday from 4:00-5:15 PM PST and are led by Amy Wheeler, a seasoned expert in yoga therapy. This clinic provides a supportive environment where participants can explore therapeutic yoga techniques to aid in addiction recovery and overall well-being.

· For those seeking professional development, there is an option to stay longer after class and earn Continuing Education (CE) credits. This extended session offers in-depth training and valuable insights into integrating yoga therapy with addiction treatment.